Talk:Sophont

Notes (2016)

MWM makes a clear distinction among the following terms (at least in T5):

• A Sentient (= "Sensing") is a life form that is self aware (e.g. an animal).
• A Sapient (= "wise cognizance") is an intelligent life form.
• A Sophont (= sophonce or higher intelligence) is an intelligent life form that has an interstellar presence.

In other words, all Sapients/Sophonts are also Sentient by definition. But while all Sophonts are also Sapients, not all Sapients are Sophonts.

So a TL-0 or TL-1 society of NILs on a world would be considered a Sapient species, but not Sophonts. If that same species eventually developed Jump Drive or a small STL/NAFAL ship polity (or had become members of a starfaring society and had spread out among the stars by that agency), then they would be considered Sophonts.

• --WHULorigan (talk) 11:54, 9 July 2016 (EDT)

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Life Development Stages

STAGES: Non-Life → Proto-Life → Creature → Proto-Sophont → Sophont → Ascendant → Transcendant

1. Non-Life (A-life)
2. Proto-Life (transitory stage) TL-Neg
3. Creature TL-Neg (pre-technological lifeforms)
4. Proto-Sophont (transitory stage) TL-0
5. Sophont TL 1-27
6. Ascendant (transitory stage) TL 28-33
7. Transcendent TL-24+ (post-technological beings)
8. Singularity